Madison times., 1887-03-26
The Story Of a Crime,

rience as a detective, OF innocent people
being convicted and punished for the
crimes Of Others? My answer was;
Only one," and the g sss well worth
relating and reading.
Ibegan my detective career in Cana
da and 10 locality where justice made
swift work Of evil-doers. | had been
three years in the business, and had
done some very fair work, when very
sensational case was put into my hands.
Three miles from the city Of b
lived a retired merchant named Graf
tou. He had fine mansion. elegant
grounds aud plenty Of money. but his
wife was an insane patient in his own
house, and the only child. boy OF H.
was half idiot. Grafton was silent
partner in several concerns in the city.
but spent four-lifths of his time at
home. His wife was never seen, while
the Young man Lived more like a wild
animal than human being. the greater
part of his time being spent in the
woods and fields. no matter what the
weather. Grafton had as coachman,
gardener, and hired man q German
about S5 years of age. who had been in
the country about five years when first
saw him at the house. There were
three female servants, and one of them
was girl is years of age named Jen-
ME Price, whose mother was very re-
spectacle widow in the city. This girl
was allowed to 20 home every other
Saturday, and always rode in with
Fritz the coachmdn, as he went to
market, ran home for an hour two, and
then returned b. the same vehicle. 1t
was reported that Fritz was in love
with and jealous of her. VIII Grafton.
the half idiot, had also taken ',shine"
10 her, but his attentions were laughed
10 scorn by the pretty Jennie and her
companions.
Now, then. in the afternoon of GER
tain l4th of July several weighty in
cidents occurred. Fritz received let
ter with foreign postmark, and was
very much excited. He was seen run
ming to the barn with the letter IN his
hand, and, ten minutes later, was
heard shouting and storming to himself
as il greatly enraged and excited. The
servants said 10 each other that he
must have received bad news. but none
Of them went to investigate and con-
sole him.
Ii was Jennie's day to go home, but
Grafton was indispOsed. Fritz sud-
denly disappeared. and Will was not al
lowed to drive the horses. The girl,
therefore, decided to set out ON foot,
and take her chances of getting lift
on the road She left at 3 o'clock in
the afternoon, and was to return by
noon next day. Saturday night it was
discovered that Fritz hal left the house
and locality. not even asking for his
wages. while Will had set of on one of
nls erratlc excursions. having been seen
oy the cook to pack up some pro-
visions.
Jennie did not return on Sunday or
Monday or Tuesday. and Grafton
drove into town on Wednesday and |
sent a message to her house. She had !
not been home, and an investigation re-
veaied the fact that none of her friends |
mad seen her for two weeks. 1t was a
case OF mysterious disappearance"
ana came into it having little doubt |
tnat II would turn out like the majority |
OF such cases. However. when l had |
learned that the girl was steady as
wen as handsome, and that every body
had perfect confidence in her princi-
PIES went to the Grafton mansion TO
peeih my search there. This was on
thursday morning. and it now seemed
pretty PLAIN that some calamity had he
falien the girl In an hour | learned
all the incidents related above. Graf.
Ton was very anxious in the matter
telling me to spare no expense bu,
"nen l began to question viii. the
young man turned on his heel and
walked oil. as if deaf and dumb I
however had chance TO look over
mm Tor couple of minutes. and
a'aoe note CT several things. A but. |
'o'i had been torn off his coat with
such force IS to tear the cloth. He !
naa Two scratches on the right cheek
ana one on the right hand. One IN.
ger oil the left hand was tied nm in
rag and the cook. who tied it M for
a'ni' told me that something had bitten
him severely. '''"
u was aquarter of a nile from tho
mouse to the highway, with carriace
,oau running straight from the from,
90 door. This road was taken BY snv of
'n0 servants who we're going to town
on loot. By making a cut through ,ho
wood they saved at least half : mile
- uistanre. The girl Jennie had been
zen TO take this path on that SATURDAY
saa my search lay in that direction
v.s. s WOODS covered about ten acres, and
wal, an dss 1Ss Olderhsushed. The path was
,os ssa defined, and was a romantic wall
III p.,s s,'a Aares, squirrels and birds.
hah way through the woods % ths no.,
'raversed a dell about a half , 81 ,ne pain